GSL-SE: Spare Tire Blowout
#1
Junior Member
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GSL-SE: Spare Tire Blowout
My wife and I took the RX7 to a pool party two weekends ago, and when leaving the party had a completely flat tire. I know what happened - I had some of those pressure monitoring caps and it caused a leak. No problem, I put on the spare in a light rain. Well, I kind of forgot it was the original spare, and while it made it 2 miles, it didn't make it three - complete blow out. Oh well, Ubered home, grabbed air compressor, aired up regular tire and changed back in a heavy rain. Lost a little time, but completely re-familiarized myself with the OEM jack and tools.
But finding a replacement spare tire for the donut rim suddenly looked very difficult. I came here and the newest threads were from 2014 & 2013, with no solutions. So I just called Discount Tire - and they said no way to get a T135 70 D15 which was OEM on the rim. But after some looking, a T125 70 D15 was still commonly available. So I had them mount it and it looks perfect. Same geometry, just a little narrower.
Blown tire on rim
OEM blown tire size
New narrower tire on OEM rim.
But finding a replacement spare tire for the donut rim suddenly looked very difficult. I came here and the newest threads were from 2014 & 2013, with no solutions. So I just called Discount Tire - and they said no way to get a T135 70 D15 which was OEM on the rim. But after some looking, a T125 70 D15 was still commonly available. So I had them mount it and it looks perfect. Same geometry, just a little narrower.
Blown tire on rim
OEM blown tire size
New narrower tire on OEM rim.
The following 4 users liked this post by wilme2:
#2
Rotary Enthusiast
Great info, I never think about the spare.
#3
Have RX-7, will restore
iTrader: (91)
Good to know ow that the smaller width tire fits without am issue. I ran i to the same issue on my SE in 2001. I got a flat, installed the spare and the spare blew out a couple miles down the road. At the time, I didn't consider that I was installing a tire that was than 17 years old. No wonder I didn't make it far. I think I'll consider ordering and replacing the spare in the SE that I'm restoring.
#4
84SE-EGI helpy-helperton
Getting my ducks in a row back during SevenStock20, I proactively changed the spare tire exactly as OP has done. Discount Tire was very helpful to find, mount, and insure the spare donut, and its nice to know its new if I ever need it. Definitely worth doing for cheap (~$100) insurance if you DD the car, or take road trips in it. Obviously, you're supposed to swap a front wheel/tire to the rear if a rear tire goes down - don't install the dinky spare on the back, drive axle.
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mazdaverx713b (06-20-21)
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#9
Replacement tires?
My 83 still has a set of Bridgestones with raised white letters, though tread is getting quite down there and tires are getting old. Am 3rd owner so not sure when tires bought but am assuming not original, car has 63k mi. Want to replace them, both for safety and to try to preserve the Bridgestones.
Would be great to have another Japanese tire. However, very few choices out there for 185/70/HR13. I find Achilles (Indonesia), Laufen (Korea), Nankang (Taiwan). More choices if drop speed rating to T — Kumho (Korea), Advanta (USA).
Questions for the group - which of these would you recommend, either on tire quality or on aesthetics or both? Alt, am I missing any? what tires do you have on yours? Thoughts on dropping H rating (I don’t drive the old gal very fast, just tool around some)?
Would be great to have another Japanese tire. However, very few choices out there for 185/70/HR13. I find Achilles (Indonesia), Laufen (Korea), Nankang (Taiwan). More choices if drop speed rating to T — Kumho (Korea), Advanta (USA).
Questions for the group - which of these would you recommend, either on tire quality or on aesthetics or both? Alt, am I missing any? what tires do you have on yours? Thoughts on dropping H rating (I don’t drive the old gal very fast, just tool around some)?
#11
Have RX-7, will restore
iTrader: (91)
My 83 still has a set of Bridgestones with raised white letters, though tread is getting quite down there and tires are getting old. Am 3rd owner so not sure when tires bought but am assuming not original, car has 63k mi. Want to replace them, both for safety and to try to preserve the Bridgestones.
Would be great to have another Japanese tire. However, very few choices out there for 185/70/HR13. I find Achilles (Indonesia), Laufen (Korea), Nankang (Taiwan). More choices if drop speed rating to T — Kumho (Korea), Advanta (USA).
Questions for the group - which of these would you recommend, either on tire quality or on aesthetics or both? Alt, am I missing any? what tires do you have on yours? Thoughts on dropping H rating (I don’t drive the old gal very fast, just tool around some)?
Would be great to have another Japanese tire. However, very few choices out there for 185/70/HR13. I find Achilles (Indonesia), Laufen (Korea), Nankang (Taiwan). More choices if drop speed rating to T — Kumho (Korea), Advanta (USA).
Questions for the group - which of these would you recommend, either on tire quality or on aesthetics or both? Alt, am I missing any? what tires do you have on yours? Thoughts on dropping H rating (I don’t drive the old gal very fast, just tool around some)?
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83ROTRY (06-22-21)
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